Seven illegal immigrants found in a semitrailer

San Diego 
Border Patrol agents found seven illegal immigrants in a semitrailer Tuesday afternoon after they stopped to question the driver, who had parked on the shoulder of a freeway in East County, officials said.

The 35-year-old man who was driving the truck and a 28-year-old man who was acting as a guide were arrested and are awaiting prosecution on suspicion of human smuggling, officials said. Both are Mexican nationals.

Agents said the driver had pulled onto the side of the road on westbound Interstate 8 near the Crestwood exit and he seemed nervous and gave misleading information when they stopped to talk with him. After he granted consent, they searched the trailer and found a wooden wall at the back end of the truck and a false compartment that concealed eight people – seven illegal immigrants and the guide.

It was the second time in less than a week that federal agents found people hidden inside a semitrailer in East County.

In a similar incident on Sunday, a Mexican man was arrested after Border Patrol agents found 73 illegal immigrants inside the rig he was driving. Agents searched his truck after he stopped at the I-8 checkpoint in Pine Valley and seemed nervous, Border Patrol officials said.

Agents found a plastic container inside the cab that the driver said was methamphetamine. Inside the trailer they discovered 50 men and 23 women.